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{{about|the collective term for a group of castes|the ancient Indian kingdom|Panchala}}
{{Short description|Brahmin Indian caste}}
{{about|the Hindu Caste|the ancient Indian kingdom|Panchala}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}


'''Panchal''' or Panchal Brahmin is a collective term for a variable range of [[Artisan]]al [[India]]n caste groups who are Brahmins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chittoor-jilla-adalath case |url=https://vishwakarmas.webs.com/chittoor-jilla-adalath |website=vishwakarmas.webs.com}}</ref>
'''Panchal''' or '''Panchal-Brahmin''' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: पांचाल, <small>[[Romanization of Sanskrit|romanized]]: ''Pānchāl''</small>) is a [[Master craftsman|Master Craftsman]] caste of India. Panchal is a collective term for '''class of engineers, architects, priests, sculptors and temple builders'''. They are Brahmins<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Shastri |first=Hari Krishna |url=https://archive.org/details/brahmotpatti-martand-in-brihat-jyotisharnava-skandha-6-hari-krishna-shastri/page/n575/mode/2up |title=Brahmin Utapatti Maratanda |publisher=KhemrajShrikrishnadass |pages=564-565 |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> and belong to Poursheya Brahmins sect.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Reddy |first=Sudarshan |date=1935 |title=THE CASTE SYSTEM, THE COLONIAL JUDICIARY, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR RITUAL STATUS IN 19TH-CENTURY ANDHRA |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44143975 |website=Indian History Congress Journal}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Sastry |first=Niramjana |title=Viśvakarma Brāhmaṇa Vaṃśāgamamu |publisher=Nabu Press |year=1923 |isbn=978-1245682923 |pages=329-331 |language=te}}</ref> They belong to [[Vishwakarma (caste)|Vishwakarma sect]]<ref>'''Robert A.E''': Vishwakarma and His Descendents, Jnanananda Ashram, Nandi, Karnataka, p, 28, 33, 51-53, 93</ref> and are also known as '''Panchal Brahmin'''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Thurston |first=Edgar |date=1909 |title=The Castes and Tribes of Southern India |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/084365a0 |journal=Nature |volume=84 |issue=2134 |pages=365–367 |doi=10.1038/084365a0 |issn=0028-0836|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2013 |title=Panchal is Panchal-Brahmin |url=http://haryanascbc.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/1_37_1_NotificationSCBCWebsite.pdf |website=www.haryanascbc.gov.in}}</ref>


According to [[Louis Dumont]], it is derived from the word ''panch'', meaning ''five'', and refers to communities that have traditionally worked as blacksmiths, carpenters, goldsmiths, stonemasons and coppersmith. These groups include the [[Lohar]]s and [[Suthar]]s of [[South India]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Kings and Untouchables: A Study of the Caste System in Western India |first=Rosa Maria |last=Perez |publisher=Orient Blackswan |year=2004 |isbn=9788180280146 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GDRWAglUumEC&pg=PA80 |page=80}}</ref> [[David G. Mandelbaum|David Mandelbaum]] noted that the name had been assumed by the blacksmiths, carpenters, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and stonemasons of South India as a means towards achieving social upliftment, calling themselves ''Panchala'' and they are [[Brahmin]]s who descend from [[Vishwakarma]]. They do, however, believe that they are equal among themselves: they perceive distinctions between their various occupational groups.<ref>{{cite book |title=Industrial Transition in Rural India: Artisans, Traders, and Tribals in South Gujarat |first=Hein |last=Streefkerk |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=1985 |isbn=9780861320677 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_L3edKpCmm4C&pg=PA103 |page=99}}</ref>
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Panchal
| native_name = पांचाल
| native_name_lang = hin
| languages = [[Hindi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Haryanvi]], [[Pahari language|Pahadi]]
| religions = [[Hinduism]]
| related_groups = [[Vishwabrahmin]]
}}


The Famous Temple of Panchal Maa Tripura Sundari which is in Umrai (Talwara),District-Banswara (Rajasthan).It is the best temple in banswara.There is lakhs and lakhs of devotees come and worship to god.
== History and Origin ==
[[File:Vishwakarmaji.png|thumb|Vishvakarma as depicted in modern times]]
According to [[Mahapurana (Hinduism)|Mahapurans]], Panchal or Vishwabrahmins<ref>'''Balashastri R.S''' – Vishwa Brahma Kulotsava,RVS Mangalore 1973 p.25-27</ref> are descended from five sons of [[Vishvakarma|Lord Vishwakarma]]. They are Manu ([[Blacksmith]]), Maya ([[Carpenter]]), Thwastha (Metal Craftsman), Silpi (Stone Carver), Viswajna ([[Goldsmith]]). [[Vishvakarma|Lord Vishwakarma]] is the [[Hindu]] presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects. In [[Hindu]] mythology, [[Vishwakarma]] is considered as the Divine Architect. He is called 'Devashilpi' or 'The Architect of Gods'. He is the "Principal Universal Architect", the architect who fabricated and designed the divine architecture of the Universe at the behest of [[Brahma]], the Lord of Creation. Vishwakarman Prajapati is the Supreme cosmic creator god, also known as Swayambhu Brahman (self existing) or Narayana/Purusha in the vedic texts. He is the highest Brahman (Para Brahman) and called as ‘the Lord of all existence’ in Satapatha Brahmana - 9.2.3.42

The [[Rig Veda]] describes [[Vishwakarma]] as the god with multi-dimensional vision and supreme strength. He is able to predict well in advance in which direction his creation will move. Hindus worship Lord [[Vishwakarma]] as the god of [[engineering]] and [[architecture]]. In [[Yajurveda]], which is one of the main hindu [[Vedas|vedic texts]], it is mentioned about pancha rishi gotra of [[Vishwabrahmins]] being namely - '''Brahmarishis - Sānaga, Sanāthana, Ahabhūna, Pratna and Suparna''' (Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Samhita 4.3.3)

Lord [[Vishwakarma]] is pictured with four hands, a club in his right hand, wears a crown, a necklace of gold, rings on his wrists and holds tools in his left hand. He is the personification of all creative power. [[Vishwakarma]] is also the designer of all the flying chariots, and divine weapons of the gods. He built [[Dwarka]], [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamapuri]], [[Indraprastha]], [[Lanka]] and the Divine weapon [[Vajra]] of [[Indra|Devraj Indra]]. According to popular beliefs in [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Puri Temple]], he is also said to have created the image of Lord [[Jagannath]] and left it incomplete due to interruption.

He is the pioneer of the science of mechanics and architecture, which is known as [[Sthapatya Veda]]. [[Mahabharat]] describes him as "The Lord of the arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the [[carpenter]] of the Gods, the most eminent of artisans, the fashioner of all the ornaments, on whose craft all menu subsist, and who is [[worshipped]] by all."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Pratap |url=https://library.bjp.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/229/3/Mahabharata%20-%20Adi%20Parva.pdf |title=The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa |publisher=BhrataPress |pages=228–232}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Vishwakarma |url=https://vishwakarmas.webs.com/chittoor-jilla-adalath |website=vishwakarma}}</ref>

There are many Vedic references to the '''Panchal''' word in the [[Hindu texts|Hindu Scriptures]]. Since most of the people from this caste are involved in [[Engineering]], [[Architecture]], and [[Temple|Temple Building]], they consider [[Vishvakarma|Vishwakarma]] as their [[Iṣṭa-devatā (Hinduism)|Ishta-deva]] and follow the Hindu Lord of Architecture and Engineering.

The references from Purans and Vedas are as follows:

* ''[[Varaha Purana|Varāha Purāṇa]],'' Chapter 176, Stanza 16

किं करोषि दिवारात्रौ ब्रूहि त्वं पृच्छतो मम । '''पांचालो''' ब्राह्मणसुतो वाणिज्यं च समाश्रितः ।।
ie :- A man named Sumantu, who had come to take a pilgrimage, asks, who are you, what are you doing by staying here day and night? Then '''Panchal''' said, I am the son of '''Panchal Brahmin''' and I have come to do my business here."

* ''[[Harivamsa Purana|Harivaṃśapurāṇa]],'' Chapter 058, Stanza 13

वास्तुदैवतकर्माणि विधिना कारयन्ति च । स्थपतीनथ गोविन्दस्तत्रोवाच महामतिः ।।
ie :- They (Vishwakarma Vaidic Brahmin) also perform worship rituals of Vaastu and deity as per prescribed rituals. Then the great intellectual Govind addressed Sthapati (Brahmashilpi Brahmin).

* ''[[Shiva Purana|Shivā Purāṇa]],'' Chapter 06, Stanza 38

एष एव परो देवो विश्वकर्मा महेश्वरः। हृदये संनिविष्टं तं ज्ञात्वैवामृतमश्नुते ॥
ie :- Such Vishwakarma is the supreme deity, Maheshwar means great God. Knowing Him to reside in one's heart, one attains the essence of nectar.

== Culture ==
Panchal are group of people, who took Engineering and Technology works as an occupation.<ref>Sharma, K.S: '''Visvakarma Samaria sankshipta Itihas'''(Short history of Vishwakarma Society). New Delhi: Visvakarma Institute of Research and Education. (1989)</ref> This community uses the surnames like: Panchal, Vishwakarma, Singh, Dhiman, Sharma, Vashista, etc. The Panchal-Brahmin<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ballard |first=Roger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=74ZVFb37zuIC&dq=Dhiman+Brahmin&pg=PA121 |title=Desh Pardesh: The South Asian Presence in Britain |publisher=Hurst |year=1994 |isbn=978-1-85065-091-1 |pages=121}}</ref> has many gotra and they maintain clan [[exogamy]] as a strict rule for marriage. The community is moving very highly in society in both business and education.

They worship [[Vishvakarma|Lord Vishwakarma]] as their clan deity and observe the [[Vishvakarma Puja|Vishwakarma Day]] (a day after [[Diwali]]), '''Vishwakarma Jayanti''' (17th September) as a day which holds very high religious significance to their community and their deity.

On the day of [[Vishvakarma Puja|Vishwakarma Day]], all the '''Panchal people''' worship their working tools (like Saws, Hammers, Trowels, stethoscope and pens including other Modern Machines) in their homes, shops or offices and no work is done on this day. After this, everyone together performs a [[Homa (ritual)|Havan]] and worships [[Vishvakarma|Lord Vishwakarma]] and on this day a huge [[Bhandara (community kitchen)|Bhandara]] or [[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]] is organized by the '''Panchal Community''' in which [[Bhandara (community kitchen)|Bhandara]] is served to all the people, irrespective of their religion or caste and without any discrimination. Then in the evening, everyone worships [[Vishvakarma|Vishwakarma Ji]] in their homes, performs [[Arti (Hinduism)|Aarti]] and gives [[Prasada|Prasad]] to the family. on this day, [[Govardhan Puja]] is also performed by everyone in same evening. [[Vishvakarma Puja|Vishwakarma Day]] is celebrated not only by '''Panchal''' but by all hand working people with the same passion and all other people also.

== Position in Society ==
They are [[Brahmin|Brahmins]]<ref name=":2" /> and belong to Parusheya Brahmins<ref name=":0" /> sect. They belong to [[Vishwakarma (caste)|Vishwakarma sect]] and are also known as '''Panchal-Brahmin'''.<ref name=":3" /> They have high societal status<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perez |first=Rosa Maria |title=Kings and untouchables: a study of the caste system in western India |date=2004 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-81-8028-014-6 |location=New Delhi}}</ref> and maintain themselves as priests of several temples in the state of Kerala and Telangana.<ref>'''Jnanananda G''': Sanskritization and Vishwa Brahmins Sanskrit Sahitya Pratishtana, Bangalore, 2005 p, 235-23</ref>

Major temples such as [https://itms.kar.nic.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=9 Sri ''Kalika'' Durga ''Parameshwari Temple''] and [https://www.sentinelassam.com/national-news/viswakarma-puja-2021-check-date-time-and-significance-here-555261 Vishwakarma Mandir, Guwahati] have Vishwabrahmins or Panchal Brahmin as the main priest. According to the customs in Jagannath Puri Temple, the chief priest of the puri temple belongs to Vishwabrahmin community and the chief priest has been of vishwabrahmin community since the establishment of the temple.

They are General Catergory in states such as Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and are written as Panchal-Brahmin. Whereas in states such as Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, ''they also belong to OBC category due to financial restraints faced during colonial times.''

== Panchal-Brahmin Status ==
Panchal-Brahmin are Brahmins<ref name=":1" /> and belong to Poursheya Brahmin sect of Bhagwan Vishwakarma. Panchal-Brahmin community's status as Brahmin was irrefutable<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panchal treated as Upper Caste |url=http://secure.evidhan.nic.in/FileStructure/AssemblyFiles/12/12/20160826/Documents/5_2.pdf |language=en}}</ref> since the ancient vedic times. During the [[Colonial India|colonial times]], their status has taken a hit due to financial restraints and oppression faced by them as weapons were made by them which was colonised and taken over earlier by the Mughals and then by the Britishers. They were offered State sponsored position if they supply weapons to the Britishers. But they refused to help the colonisers following which the traditional work of the community got dismantled by force and taken over by the Britishers and the whole community faced financial constraints for the successive generations to come. Even though the community is facing financial problems in some places, their status as Brahmin has been proven in several court judgements and ruling in India, as following:

* '''Haryana Government Notification'''<ref name=":4" />

According to the [[Notification]] of [[Haryana Government]] issued by the '''Welfare of Scheduled castes & Backward Classes Department''' on 10 October, 2013.<ref name=":4" />

"The [[Governor of Haryana]] is further pleased to order that the names of the backward castes, '''Dhiman''' mentioned at serial no.30 of the list of Backward Classes be renamed as '''Dhiman-Brahmin''' and the backward caste '''Panchal''' at serial no.40 of the list of Backward Classes be renamed as '''Panchal-Brahmin'''."<ref name=":4" />

* '''Order of A.H. Mackenzie, Director of Public Instruction, United Provinces, British India on Feb.1.1934 at Allahabad'''

"I have the honor to say that the caste of any Student of the '''Lohar''' Community may be Shown in the School record as '''Panchal Brahman''' or '''Dhiman Brahman'''. If the parent or guardian of the students so desires."

* '''The history of Aryan Rule in India, from earliest times to the death of Akbar''' by [[E.B. Havell]] (Part 1, Chapter 1, Page No: 19-20) <ref>{{Cite book |last=Havell |first=E.B. |url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/history-aryan-rule-india-earliest-times-death-akbar |title=The history of Aryan rule in India, from earliest times to the death of Akbar |publisher= |year=1918 |pages=19–20 |language=en}}</ref>

"The [[Ramayana]] records the facts that some of the higher ranks of craftsmen had a social status equal to that of [[Brahmans]]. Included among them were those who were versed in the canons of craft ritual, the [[Shilpa Shastras|Silpa-Sastras]], such as the craftsmen who wrought the sacrificial posts at tribal religious ceremonies and the master-builders who laid out the plans of the village communities and designed piblic buildings and irrigation works. But it was only when a craftsmen was regarded as officiating is sacred rites that he took the status of a [[Brahman]] and was entitled to the privileges of the highest class. "The hand of an artist employed and in his art is always pure" ([[Manusmriti|Manu]],5,129), but those who built houses for gain were to be avoided as offenders against Aryan law, contact with whom was pollution ([[Manusmriti|Manu]],3,163)".

* '''Chittoor district court judgement, 15th December 1818'''

"In the above mentioned case, the petitioner M.S. Achary had filed a petition regarding the status quo of Vishwakarma as Brahmins, which was refuted by the defendant Gundappa. Daker Dosa, the presiding judge in this matter, considering all the forwarded facts and evidences in this matter, held that, by taking into consideration the cited verses from Vedas (as referred by the petioner) and from the Puranas (as referred by the defendant), Vishwakarma Brahmins are on par with Brahmins and no societal discrimination can take this away as Vedas are considered superior to that of Puranas which is held utmost authority in Sanatana Dharma by both Vishwakarma Brahmins and Brahmins."<ref name=":5" /><ref>Muttacharya.T.V: Vishwakarma Vamsha. Vikas, Tumkur, 1968</ref>

* '''Panchal-Brahmins and Brahmins'''

"Panchal-Brahmin are on-par with the Brahmins in the current time, whereas until the early 1500s they were above the rest of Brahmins in the social hierarchy."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Streefkerk |first=Hein |title=Industrial transition in rural India: artisans, traders and tribals in South Gujarat |last2=Streefkerk |first2=Hein |date=1985 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-0-86132-067-7 |location=Bombay}}</ref> They belong to the General Category in India due to their high social hierarchy and Financial Status.

== Prominent Temples ==
[[File:Machilipatnam Vishwakarma Temple 9.jpg|thumb|Vishvakarma Temple at Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh]]
There are many prominent temples maintained by Panchal-Brahmin community as the chief priest. Panchal-Brahmins are chief priests in the temples as follows:

* [[Tripura Sundari Temple|Maa Tripura Sundari Temple]], which is in Umrai (Talwara), District-Banswara (Rajasthan). It is a well-known temple in Banswara. Lakhs of devotees daily come to worship in the temple
* [https://itms.kar.nic.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=9 Sri Kalika Durga Parameshwari Temple, Bengaluru], which has Panchal Brahmin as the main priest and has been maintained as such since several generations.
* Jagannath Temple, Puri, which is one of the most major temples in hinduism
* [https://www.sentinelassam.com/national-news/viswakarma-puja-2021-check-date-time-and-significance-here-555261 Vishwakarma Mandir, Guwahati]
* Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

== See Also ==

* [[Vishvakarma|Lord Vishwakarma]]
* [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia|Maharaj Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]]
* [[Dhiman|Dhiman-Brahmin]]
* Panchal-Brahmin
* [[Lohar]]
* [[Vishwakarma (caste)|Vishwakarma Caste]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 04:50, 30 December 2023

This article is about the collective term for a group of castes. For the ancient Indian kingdom, see Panchala.

Panchal or Panchal Brahmin is a collective term for a variable range of Artisanal Indian caste groups who are Brahmins.[1]

According to Louis Dumont, it is derived from the word panch, meaning five, and refers to communities that have traditionally worked as blacksmiths, carpenters, goldsmiths, stonemasons and coppersmith. These groups include the Lohars and Suthars of South India.[2] David Mandelbaum noted that the name had been assumed by the blacksmiths, carpenters, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and stonemasons of South India as a means towards achieving social upliftment, calling themselves Panchala and they are Brahmins who descend from Vishwakarma. They do, however, believe that they are equal among themselves: they perceive distinctions between their various occupational groups.[3]

The Famous Temple of Panchal Maa Tripura Sundari which is in Umrai (Talwara),District-Banswara (Rajasthan).It is the best temple in banswara.There is lakhs and lakhs of devotees come and worship to god.

References

  1. ^ "Chittoor-jilla-adalath case". vishwakarmas.webs.com.
  2. ^ Perez, Rosa Maria (2004). Kings and Untouchables: A Study of the Caste System in Western India. Orient Blackswan. p. 80. ISBN 9788180280146.
  3. ^ Streefkerk, Hein (1985). Industrial Transition in Rural India: Artisans, Traders, and Tribals in South Gujarat. Popular Prakashan. p. 99. ISBN 9780861320677.


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